𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲

Paganism is often misunderstood. In Scripture, paganism does not mean anything that came from non-biblical cultures. Paganism means the worship of false gods through ritual devotion. The word comes from the Latin 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑠, which described rural people who retained polytheistic worship after the gospel spread through the cities. Biblically, paganism is not about objects or language. It is about allegiance.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3 NKJV)

The Torah never forbids cultural borrowing. Israel lived among pagan nations and used their calendars, place names, trade words, clothing styles, and civic customs. None of this violated God’s commands. What God condemned was the imitation of pagan worship methods.

“You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way.” (Deuteronomy 12:31)

The issue is how something functions in the present. Neutral culture becomes pagan only when used as devotion to spiritual powers other than the God of Israel.

Paul explains this clearly. “An idol is nothing in the world.” (1 Corinthians 8:4) Objects carry no power unless people bow to them. A statue, a symbol, or a custom is not pagan by origin. It becomes pagan by ritual use.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜

A tradition crosses the line when it involves spiritual engagement with false powers or attempts to manipulate unseen forces. Examples include:

- Astrology for guidance

- Tarot or spirit divination

- Manifestation rituals rooted in occult visualization

- Ancestral spirit invocations

- Crystal healing ceremonies

- Witchcraft practices

- Treating angels or saints as mediators

- Spirit channeling

These behaviors imitate pagan religious systems. They depend on power outside the God of Israel and violate Torah.

“There shall not be found among you anyone who practices divination… or calls up the dead.” (Deuteronomy 18:10–11)

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥

Many customs accused of paganism remain spiritually neutral because no worship occurs. Examples include:

- Using months named after Roman gods

- Speaking weekday names tied to Norse mythology

- Wearing wedding rings

- Seasonal decorations

- Gifting traditions

- Folk music styles

These actions hold no ritual power and direct no prayer or devotion toward another god. Ancient origins are irrelevant because meaning lies in current use, not forgotten history.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬

Legalism attempts to cleanse life by tracing historical contamination rather than examining spiritual practice. The result becomes endless fear and boundary policing. Scripture never commands believers to purge culture of ancient associations.

Paul warns against this spirit: “Let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths.” (Colossians 2:16)

Holiness is not cultural isolation. Holiness is covenant loyalty.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲

The biblical line is simple:

- Paganism means worshiping false gods.

- Syncretism means worshiping the true God with pagan methods.

- Culture remains neutral unless transformed into a spiritual ritual.

Israel’s golden calf shows how syncretism works. They claimed to worship the LORD yet used pagan worship forms. God rejected it.

“This is the LORD…” (Exodus 32:4)

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝

Avoiding paganism does not mean escaping culture. It means refusing false worship. God does not require us to flee civilization.

He calls us to live faithfully within it.

“You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.” (Matthew 4:10)

Holiness comes from covenant devotion, not historical purity tests.

B"H!

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮.